CHAPTER 154: CHAPTER 134: UTTERLY CONFUSED

Looking at the dejected Xia Liang, Tong Dongnuan recalled their old pact: if he still didn’t have a girlfriend when they grew up, she would help him snag one.

Turns out the punk really hasn’t changed at all. So he was waiting here for me all along.

At that thought, a suggestive smile touched Tong Dongnuan’s lips.

"How boring is it to be alone? Want to try something more exciting? A threesome, maybe?"

What the hell!

Xia Liang’s mouth twitched.

"I’m just kidding," he said, downing a bottle of beer.

"Oh," Tong Dongnuan replied softly. For some reason, she felt a pang of disappointment.

Aren’t I a T? Why do I feel this way?

Tong Dongnuan was puzzled. Shaking her head, she decided to forget about it. She raised her beer bottle.

"Come on, bottoms up!"

Xia Liang didn’t hesitate, and they both finished another bottle. They stopped asking questions and instead started reminiscing about all the funny things that had happened over the years.

After a few rounds of drinks, it was already four in the morning. Although their heads were spinning from the alcohol, Xia Liang deliberately chose not to use his abilities to expel it from his system. It had been a long time since he’d felt this relaxed.

Using their last ounce of common sense, they went to the Ru Jia Hotel and got a room. The moment they hit the bed, they both collapsed.

「That night...」

Two drunk people ended up sleeping together.

"Ooh... Zhou Ruo."

"Xiao Ling."

They each cried out another’s name as their bodies intertwined.

...

「The next day」

Sunlight spilled into the room.

Xia Liang slowly awoke to an empty room, leaving him a bit confused as he looked at the bed.

"Dongnuan?" he called out softly, but there was no response.

Puzzled, he lifted the covers to get out of bed, but a spot of red on the white sheets struck him like a bolt of lightning. Memories from the previous night flashed through his mind, and he smacked himself hard on the head.

"Damn it, this is bad!"

In my drunken haze, I thought she was Zhou Ruo. And I... we...

But the person with him last night wasn’t Zhou Ruo, it was freaking Tong Dongnuan!

Shit!

Xia Liang could never have imagined that on the very first day of reuniting with his long-lost "brother," he would end up sleeping with her!

Holy shit!

Feeling like his scalp was about to explode, Xia Liang hurried downstairs to the front desk.

"The young woman just left not long ago," the receptionist told him.

Upon hearing this, Xia Liang was ecstatic.

"Which way did she go?"

Looking in the direction the receptionist pointed, Xia Liang quickly gave chase. He soon spotted Tong Dongnuan walking stiffly, clearly fighting through physical discomfort.

"Damn you, Xia Liang! How could you be so rough..." she muttered to herself. Her neck, which was covered in hickeys, was drawing strange looks from passersby. Even with her usual thick skin, Tong Dongnuan couldn’t bear the stares.

"Tong Dongnuan! Stop right there!"

The voice from behind made Tong Dongnuan freeze. The next second, Xia Liang had caught up and grabbed her arm.

"What are you doing?" she snapped, turning to glare at him with surprising defiance.

Looking at the marks on her neck, Xia Liang’s voice softened. "Um, about last night... it was my fault..."

Hearing him start to make excuses, Tong Dongnuan felt a surge of annoyance.

If he had just owned up to it, I would’ve felt better. But this just sounds like he’s trying to get out of it.

She immediately cut him off. "You don’t have to say it."

"Huh?" Xia Liang was startled. "Why?"

"There’s no why," Tong Dongnuan said coldly. "You don’t need to explain. Relax. We were both drunk, so I won’t make you take responsibility."

"Uh..." Xia Liang rubbed his head, looking puzzled. "What are you talking about? I was going to say, it’s my fault I was too rough. I’m sorry I wore you out."

?????

"I’ll be damned!"

Even with her nerves of steel, Tong Dongnuan was completely stunned.

Is he bragging right now?

Even though she knew his personality and they used to be inseparable, she was utterly speechless.

"Um... does it still hurt?"

"I...!"

After all, Tong Dongnuan was still a girl, and she couldn’t handle being asked something so direct. Her face flushed crimson, and she swung a fist at his chest, but he caught it effortlessly. Then, he swept her up into a princess carry.

Tong Dongnuan, unlike some women, didn’t scream. She just said, somewhat uncomfortably, "Xia Liang, what are you doing? Put me down."

But naturally, Xia Liang wouldn’t. "You’re having trouble walking. Let me help you," he said, turning back toward the hotel.

Tong Dongnuan struggled awkwardly, but her strength was no match for his. In the end, she could only glare at him and let him carry her. Cradled in his arms, she gradually started to feel less awkward. Leaning against his chest, she felt an unprecedented sense of security.

The two returned to their hotel room, which had twin beds. Xia Liang gently placed Tong Dongnuan on the other bed. The moment she landed, she watched him warily.

"Xia Liang, what are you going to do? You beast, you’re not thinking of it again, are you? I... I... I can’t do it right now!"

Seeing this normally fearless tomboy looking so flustered, Xia Liang found it quite amusing. A playful impulse took over, and he deliberately teased, "Well, since it’s already happened once, why don’t I..."

"No! At least, not right now!" Tong Dongnuan shrieked, hastily pulling the blanket up to her chin before he could finish.

There was no way... The man was a monster! Four hours! Four whole hours! It’s a miracle I can even walk today, and that’s only because I’m in good shape. Another round would actually kill me.

"Hahaha." Seeing her like this was a rare sight, so Xia Liang stopped teasing her. "Alright, alright, I’ll stop. Let me heal your injuries first."

As she watched in confusion, Xia Liang took her hand. The next second, Tong Dongnuan felt a warm current flow from her hand into her body, spreading through her limbs. The pain vanished almost instantly. In moments, she felt completely fine—even the soreness in her back and waist was gone.

She was completely astonished. "What is this? Internal energy?"

"Mm," Xia Liang confirmed. He knew Tong Dongnuan wouldn’t blabber about it, so he casually made up a story.

Upon hearing Xia Liang’s tale of gaining a divine skill after jumping off a cliff, Tong Dongnuan’s eyes lit up, instantly captivated by the idea of martial arts. Xia Liang quickly cut in, telling her the technique could only be practiced by men. Only then did she sigh with immense disappointment.

"Okay, enough about that," Xia Liang said, bringing the conversation back on topic. He looked at Tong Dongnuan, who was still wrapped in the blanket like a caterpillar, and said earnestly, "Since we slept together—and that’s an unchangeable fact—I will take responsibility for you."

Staring into his serious eyes, Tong Dongnuan’s heart began to thump wildly. She involuntarily looked away and muttered, "Who wants you to take responsibility? Aren’t we brothers? Besides, don’t you remember what we used to say? If you really couldn’t hold it in when we grew up, as your brother, I’d let you..."

Before Tong Dongnuan could finish, Xia Liang looked completely exasperated.

That was just us joking around when we were kids!